Cutoff Rule
https://schema.aidops.org/vocab/cutoff-rule
A population-specific rule for classifying acute malnutrition from MUAC or other anthropometric measurements. MUAC cutoffs differ by age, sex, and physiological state; applying a rule outside its target population produces misclassification.
Standard reference
WHO/UNICEF joint statement (2009) and Sphere Handbook (2018) (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241598163)
Cutoffs for children 6-59 months are the WHO/UNICEF standard: SAM < 115 mm, MAM 115-124 mm, adequate >= 125 mm. School-age, adolescent, pregnant, lactating, and adult populations use different rules drawn from Sphere, national protocols, and humanitarian practice.
Values
| Code | Label | Standard code | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
who_unicef_6_59m | WHO/UNICEF MUAC, children 6-59 months | MUAC < 115 mm = SAM, 115-124 mm = MAM, >= 125 mm = adequate. The canonical rule for under-five acute malnutrition. | |
who_2007_school_age | WHO 2007 BMI-for-age, school-age and adolescents | Z-score classification from BMI-for-age rather than fixed MUAC cutoffs. Use for children and adolescents 5-19 years. | |
sphere_pregnant | Sphere MUAC, pregnant and lactating women | MUAC thresholds for pregnant and lactating women vary by context; common cutoffs are < 210 mm or < 230 mm depending on national protocol. | |
humanitarian_adult | Humanitarian adult MUAC | No universal cutoff exists for adults. Humanitarian contexts commonly use 185-220 mm ranges, selected per operation. | |
national_protocol | National protocol | A government or ministry-of-health protocol that defines its own thresholds. Use when the rule is a national standard not covered by the values above. |